There is a need to collectively address the security challenges faced by the region
With the Indian Army Chief holding bilateral meetings with his counterparts from nearly a dozen countries, mainly from the Indo-Pacific Region, over the past few days, the stage has been set for robust military partnerships between these nations.
 
The occasion was the just-concluded three-day event in New Delhi from September 25-27, 2023. Co-hosted by the Indian Army and the US Army, it comprised the 13th Indo-Pacific Army Chiefs Conference (IPACC), the 47th IPAMS and 9th SELF.
 
The event witnessed participation from 30 countries. While 18 countries were represented by Chiefs of their respective Armies, 12 countries were represented by Heads of Delegations. “The event provided an opportunity for the delegates to exchange ideas and views on security and other contemporary issues of mutual interest, with core efforts directed to promote ‘Peace and Stability’ in the Indo-Pacific region,” India’s Ministry of Defence said.
 
Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande used the opportunity to hold one-on-one discussions with:
 
General Morishita Yasunori (Japan).
Lieutenant General Simon Stuart (Australia).
Lieutenant General Mguyen Doan Anh (Vietnam).
Lieutenant General Peter Mbogo Njiru (Kenya).
Prasiddha Prabal Janesewashree General Prabhu Ram Sharma (Nepal).
 General Sheikh Md Shafiuddin Ahmed (Bangladesh). 
Major General John Boswell (New Zealand).
General Sir Patrick Sanders (UK).
Lieutenant General Mao Sophan (Cambodia). 
General Jung Hwan Park (Republic of Korea).
General Pierre Schill (France).
General Datuk Muhammad Hafizuddeain Bin Jantan (Malaysia).
 
Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar also held bilateral meetings with the heads of delegations of Brazil, Singapore, Mongolia and Thailand.
 
Referring to these bilateral discussions, an Indian Army post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) said the discussions focused on increasing defence cooperation and bilateral ties.
 
Significantly, the event also saw a display of India’s indigenous defence manufacturing abilities, which is being promoted assiduously through a series of policy initiatives for an Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).
 
The ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ Equipment Display during the event showcased the capability of Indian industry to produce world class military equipment indigenously. Thirty-one corporates participated in the exhibition which generated lots of interest amongst participants. The main highlights were Drones, Counter-Drone Systems, Modular Firing Ranges, Small Arms, NAVIC based devices, Surveillance Systems, Protective Gear, Self-Propelled Artillery Guns, Military Vehicles etc.
 
According to official data, India's defence exports have reached an all-time high, surging from Rs. 686 Crore in FY 2013-14 to nearly Rs. 16,000 Crore in FY 2022-23. This remarkable 23-fold increase reflects India's progress in the global defence manufacturing sector. With exports reaching more than 85 countries, India’s defence industry has shown its capability of design and development to the world, with 100 firms exporting defence products at present, the Ministry of Defence said in May this year. At the same time, the expenditure on defence procurement from foreign sources has reduced from 46% of overall expenditure in 2018-19 to 36.7% in December, 2022.
 
In his inaugural address at the 13th Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs’ Conference (IPACC) in New Delhi on September 26, 2023, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said India's efforts towards building robust military partnerships with friendly countries underscores the commitment to not only safeguard the country's own national interests but also addressing important global challenges being faced by everybody.
 
With the Indo-Pacific Region emerging as a pivotal geopolitical and strategic concept in recent years, there is a need to collectively address the security challenges it faces, including boundary disputes, Defence Minister Singh said.